Rafael Nadal set more records Thursday in Madrid. The Spanish hero rolled past Diego Schwartzman to win his 21st straight match on clay, and set the mark for most consecutive sets won on a single surface at 50, eclipsing John McEnroe’s 49 on the trot on carpet in 1984.

“I really don’t think much about that. All these things, probably after I finish my career will be the time to think about it,” Nadal said of the mark. “I won a difficult match against a very difficult player that played well.”

Up next will be the last man to beat Nadal on clay, Dominic Thiem which was in Rome. The Austrian edged out Borna Coric 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.

“Last year was little bit different,” said Thiem about the match up. “I lost to him easily in Barcelona. Then here I was closer to him. It was a really good match here, last year’s final. Then in Rome I was able to play 100 per cent the way it takes to beat him.

“It was one of the best matches of my life. If I want to repeat,” Thiem added. “It takes the same. I have to play very aggressive with not many mistakes.”

Overall, Nadal leads Thiem 6-2.

“Very tough match. Especially here on this surface and even more in altitude. His bounces and topspin are very high and difficult to control,” Nadal said of Thiem. “I need to be ready for tomorrow. It will be a very tough match to play but it’s a good opportunity to play against one of the best players of the world.”

Two favorites fell as Juan Martin del Potro was stunned by qualifier Dusan Lajovic 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(6) who picked up his first career Top 10 win. Del Potro led 4-0 in the final set breaker.

“It’s for sure my best win, and definitely one of the best matches I’ve played. I really felt good on the court today,” Lajovic said. “I felt I had my chances throughout the whole match. I was fighting from the first point till the last. It paid off.”

Lajovic will now face Kevin Anderson who will try to make his first Masters semifinal after 10 previous failed attempts.

And in the much-anticipated Canadian clash, it was Denis Shapovalov getting the better of Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-4. Shapovalov takes on Kyle Edmund tomorrow for a semifinal berth.

Alexander Zverev eased past Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 6-1. He gets a Miami final rematch against John Isner who needed 32 aces and three breakers to best Pablo Cuevas.

I Think when you have played at such a high level for so long, the chances are you will have a let down sooner or later, Thiem is playing at a high level, which takes some doing when it comes to staying with Nadal on this surface ….

Wow, Thiem deserved this set. He is winning more poiints on the baseline, super agreesive, changed his retursn ala Federer and went for the clear winner DTL fH to close the set. Ball out by less than an inch. Then loses 2 points after a DF. Nadal lucky in that point.

This is why Thiem was hyped as a potential player to challenge Nadal regularly on clay. Last year Madrid he played great and had set point, Rome match where he won and now this almost flawless set.
He is tactically perfect today. Changed the way he is returning more inside court taking time away from Nadal from the get go. And winning more second serves on Nadal serve, which is the main stat responsible for his current streak. He is winning more than 60% second serves points. Not today at 50%.

Also he is winning more baseline points and Nadal oddily winning the short points.

NAdal also made a bunch of unusal unforeced errors with his FH netting several.

Excellent match and Dom strutting his stuff and playing great. Like new closer to the baseline play too.Thought he was going to blow the set, started to serve quite badly, but steadied ship.
RZ: Yeah, hope they’re in opposite sides of the draw at RG.
For those whinging about next gen, we have Dom, Denis, Kyle and Sascha in the quarters. Yay!

Congrats Thiem!
It was a very enjoyable match for me. What’s even more remarkable to me is that he lost to a single backhander and we know how rare that is. Put it another way how many single backhander has beaten Rafa on clay in the last decade? This match evokes the same thrill as the one when Stan beat Novak at the French Open.

Congrats to team Thiem! He took it to Rafa today…….played awesome! Fed will go back to #1 and the beat goes on. Two great champions battling it out!! On a brighter note…….with Rafa losing today maybe I can get a few things done……I will pull for my American John, but if he goes out it’s Dom all the way for me. I believe he’ll be the Madrid champion 2018 and get to hoist that horrendous trophy! Lol!!

For those celebrating, Madrid is about as far away from RG you could get in terms of conditions. It was never my favorite. Like a big boy, I will take the loss. At least, the loss was to Timmy Boy, who has a good future on clay.

I hate it, but I just can’t root for Isner, even if he is super nice and American. It’s the style of play. I just can’t stand servathons. Like the 90s was infamous for when two good servers met. Bam!! weak return… Putaway Volley!!! Repeat identically on either side until match is over on one mistake. And against a nonbig server it is all about holding serve and taking no risks.

Give me the actual Marathons, even Murray-Ferrer or Rafa-Nole anytime.
Or a non-servbot offense against a Raafa or Novak defense. (Or Andy).

UH, oh….Humble Rafa is playing a bit too close to the truth! Of course all those 2nd half hardcourt seasons Rafa missed some or all of Masters and above in 2/3rds the years he has played (not counting the Masters players select to skip to schedule themselves better) were *cough*, injury related.

It is still right – don’t talk love of the game if you only elect to enter tournaments you play good at., to pad career stats.

It is still right – don’t talk love of the game if you only elect to enter tournaments you play good at., to pad career stats.
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I don’t need to pad anything. I have 10 of everything. I own more people than most people.

RZ, There was a point, 5-5 30-30 where someone in the crowd call out beofre Shapo serve. edmund stopped. And the point was to Shapo by the rules. But he under fair play knowing Edmund didn’t even move coudl replay the point with a let. Edmund even said it to his face and umire sat the net when all 3 were there. Shapo did not replay the point, part of the crown didn´t like and even boo at him after the win. At leats it made Edmund pissed and he won the second but even so, he was out of it and had to save a MP almost losing the match next game.

Happy whoever wins from the 4, although Anderson don’t excites. Would be weird if he wins his first Master on clay, even altutude Madrid.

Thinking about it, we will have another different masera winnner since Cincy and there is a 75% chance we get another first time Masters winner in the same Spam, it could be the fitth after Grigor, Sock, DelPo and Isner.